Abstract

A diode end-pumped doubly Q-switched ${\mathrm{YVO}}_4/\mathrm{Nd}\text{:}{\mathrm{YVO}}_4$ laser has been realized for the first time to our knowledge by using both an electro-optic (EO) modulator and a ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YAG}$ saturable absorber. A $3.8\mathrm{ns}$ pulse width is generated by this laser under a pump power of $15\mathrm{W}$ at $2\mathrm{kHz}$, which is obviously compressed in comparison with that of $8.8\mathrm{ns}$ from a single actively EO Q-switched laser. Under the same conditions, peak power values of 174.7 and $93\mathrm{kW}$ are also obtained. A coupled equation is given to theoretically analyze the experimental data. The experimental and theoretical results show that the doubly Q-switched laser has the advantages of a shorter pulse width and higher pulse peak power in contrast with a singly Q-switched laser.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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